About St. Maurice · Kindred, North Dakota
Saint Maurice Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Kindred, North Dakota (Cass County), serving the surrounding farming area in the Diocese of Fargo. The parish gathers for a Saturday evening Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, and daily weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday, with confessions heard before Saturday Mass and by appointment. Under the pastoral leadership of Very Rev. James Goodwin and deacon Clarence Vetter, the parish sustains a traditional worship life, religious-education classes for grades 1–12, an annual parish capital campaign, and service to the sick and homebound.
- Patron
- St. Maurice
- Rector
- Very Rev. James Goodwin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
St. Maurice offers a small, family-sized Catholic community where every member is known by name, with daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday vigil, and a Sunday morning Mass ideal for working farm families. The parish provides CCD religious education for students in grades 1–12, a Lay-Directed spirituality formation program (with named Lay Directors on the parish council), the Sacrament of the Sick brought to homes and hospitals, and a capital-campaign effort to retire the parish's building debt — all things that make belonging here personal and tangible.
Mass times at St. Maurice
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (and by appointment)
About Saint Maurice Catholic Church
Saint Maurice Catholic Church is a small, rural Roman Catholic parish in Kindred, North Dakota, serving the Catholic families of Kindred and surrounding Cass County. It belongs to the Diocese of Fargo and follows the Roman Rite, with all Masses celebrated in English. The parish identifies itself as a community 'called to continue the work of salvation that Jesus began' and to 'bring a deeper union with God through the announcing of the Gospel in word and action.'
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. James Goodwin, pastor, assisted by Deacon Clarence Vetter. The parish office is staffed by secretary Bev Lindsey on a part-time schedule (office hours Friday 10:00 AM–1:00 PM). Father Goodwin's emergency contact number is published in the bulletin for the sick and homebound.
- Pastor: Very Rev. James Goodwin
- Deacon: Clarence Vetter
- Secretary: Bev Lindsey
- Office hours: Friday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Bulletin deadline: Wednesday 9:00 AM
Parish Council and Lay Leadership
A Finance/Parish Council supports the operation of the parish and integrates a Lay Director spirituality track (sometimes called the 'shepherding' or Lay-Director ministry in similar rural Fargo-diocese parishes). Council members are listed in the weekly bulletin and rotate responsibilities for liturgical hospitality, lector, altar servers and money counting.
- Lay Directors: Miranda Muscha and Mike Bjertness
- Council Members: Len Splichal, Greg Moffet, Amanda Hagen, Mike Bjertness
Religious Education (CCD)
St. Maurice runs its parish Religious Education program (CCD) on-site for school-age children and youth, with two tracks split by grade level. Classes typically gather on Sundays outside of Mass and follow the liturgical calendar, resuming shortly after Christmas each year.
- Grades 1–6 CCD
- Grades 7–12 CCD
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments and offers practical guidance on each in its bulletin. Baptisms are preceded by a preparation class, which may be taken before the child is born. Couples are asked to contact the pastor at least one year in advance of a wedding. The Sacrament of the Sick is brought to those who are seriously ill or facing surgery, at home or in the hospital (HIPAA rules require the family or patient themselves to request a visit).
- Baptism — preparation class required; register before birth if desired
- Marriage — at least one-year notice to the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — for serious illness or pre-surgery
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM and by appointment
- Communion for the sick and homebound — contact the parish office
Liturgical Ministries
Volunteer lay ministers serve each weekend Mass in the usual roles. Schedules are published in the weekly bulletin so parishioners know when they are serving. Hospitality Ministers greet and welcome; lectors proclaim the scripture; altar servers assist at the altar; Money Counters handle the weekly collection and deposit.
- Hospitality Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Money Counters
Stewardship and Capital Campaign
St. Maurice runs an active stewardship and parish capital campaign to retire the loan on its church facility. The campaign began in November 2019 with a starting loan balance of $235,400; by December 2020 the balance had been reduced to $197,500, with $58,360 pledged and $30,950 collected. The parish also offers automatic giving via ACH for convenient recurring contributions.
- Capital Campaign (begun November 2019)
- ACH automatic giving
- Bulletin messages on forgiveness and stewardship
Parish Office and Contact
Parishioners can reach the parish office by phone, email or in person. Office hours are limited to Friday mornings, but messages can be left anytime and the pastor can be reached in emergencies on his cell.
- Phone: (701) 428-3094
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmaurices.org
- Mailing: PO Box 272, Kindred, ND 58051
- Pastor emergency cell: 701-640-5638
- Deacon Clarence Vetter cell: 701-212-0733
Community and Heritage
St. Maurice sits at the heart of Kindred — a small community closely associated with North Dakota's agricultural and aviation history. The Kindred community has long supported its Catholic parish, and Kindred figures such as aviation pioneer Robert Odegaard helped raise the funds that built the present church and served on the parish council. The parish remains a place where, by its own description, 'we, the people of St. Maurice, are the people of God called to continue the work of salvation that Jesus began.'
- Diocese: Diocese of Fargo
- Type: Roman Rite parish
- Parish size: small, rural
- Saint Maurice feast day: September 22